---
title: "Secrets of Online Engagement"
id: "9164"
type: "post"
slug: "secrets-of-online-engagement"
published_at: "2019-03-15T00:00:00+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-03-15T02:51:10+00:00"
url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/03/15/secrets-of-online-engagement/"
markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/03/15/secrets-of-online-engagement.md"
excerpt: "What are key skills to look for in an online community manager? A really important attribute in an online community manager is the ability to build relationships, be empathetic, and make connections. It’s not the platform or site that brings..."
taxonomy_category:
  - "Marketing / Communications"
taxonomy_post_tag:
  - "ASAEcenter"
  - "Collaboration Tools"
  - "community engagement"
  - "digital tools"
  - "Member Engagement"
  - "Online Engagement"
taxonomy_content_format:
  - "Article"
taxonomy_role:
  - "Director"
  - "Manager"
taxonomy_persona:
  - "Association Professionals"
---

[Home](https://associationsnow.com/)
 » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/)
 » Secrets of Online Engagement

**What are key skills to look for in an online community manager?**

A really important attribute in an online community manager is the ability to build relationships, be empathetic, and make connections. It’s not the platform or site that brings value; the value is in the people who engage there. Online community managers should also be good storytellers. Anyone can report on key metrics every month, but not everyone can translate that into a story and explain what those numbers mean in the larger context.

**What is the most important consideration when you’re establishing a new online community?**

You have to think about who the community is meant to serve. Once you know who your people are, you can start to develop a strategy around how to engage them. If you get the “who” wrong, you won’t get any of the rest of it right.

**What tech tools help to make collaboration and conversation easier?**

When it comes to member behavior, make sure that your community platform is able to push and pull information to users. Also, it should be able to provide a 360-degree view of how your members interact and engage online. Consider using artificial intelligence, machine learning, or other emerging tech tools to personalize user experiences and conversations based on their past behaviors.

Tags: [#Collaboration Tools](https://associationsnow.com/tag/collaboration-tools/)
 [#community engagement](https://associationsnow.com/tag/community-engagement/)
 [#digital tools](https://associationsnow.com/tag/digital-tools/)
 [#Member Engagement](https://associationsnow.com/tag/member-engagement/)
 [#Online Engagement](https://associationsnow.com/tag/online-engagement/)

**Stay Informed**

[Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/)
, *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day.

## You Might Like

- [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/)
- [VideoOnline and On Mission by David GammelJanuary 6, 2010](https://associationsnow.com/2010/01/06/online-and-on-mission-by-david-gammel/)
- [VideoAdobeMarketo Demo 1 26 2021February 8, 2021](https://associationsnow.com/2021/02/08/adobemarketo-demo-1-26-2021/)
- [VideoClickDimensions Demo 1 26 2021February 1, 2021](https://associationsnow.com/2021/02/01/clickdimensions-demo-1-26-2021/)

## Comments

**Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/)

[Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2019%2F03%2F15%2Fsecrets-of-online-engagement%2F%23comments)
 to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/)
!
